Spark-plug.



c.' M. "GoNKLm SPARK PLUG. APPLIOATIONFILBD NOV. B, 1909.

Patented Apr. 14, 191% l @WMM www,

. and resident of Cincinnati,

GHARLESM. CONKLIN, 0F CINCINNATI, OHIO. Y

SPARK-PLUG.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr.. 1 4, 191%. l v

l l Application led November 6, 190'9.l Serial No. 526,507.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, CHARLES M. CoNkmN, a citizen of the United States of America', Hamilton county, State of Ohio, have: inventedy certain \new and useful Improvements in Spark-Plugs, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to spark plugs and has for an object' to produce an improved plug 4which 'overcomes difficulties encountered .with the existingplugs known to me.

A diiliculty encountered with existing 1 plugsl is that the insulating core located between the shell portion of the plug and the central terminal post or electrode is subjected to the high temperature of the engine cylinder, and to the comparatively low temperature lwhich exists outside of the cylinder. This construction results in temperature strains, which cause a tendency' of the core to break, and,` consequently, if

v there is an inherent defect or weakness in the core it willbreak. I overcome this diiculty by providing aninsulating-core, preferably ofporcelain, which is made in two parts, one of whichl is subjectedto the heat of the engine cylinder, and.' the other of which is` v texposed tothe temperature exterior to the heat of the engine cylinder, and to` preventan interchange of temperatures between the and with considerable labor.

cylinder. I also provide a. non-conducting and heat insulating diaphragm between` the two parts, to protect the outer part from the two parts. Another difficulty encountered with plugs of the jump-spark type, 1s that thespark points or terminals become inef-V fective and render the Ainner -plug useless.

`Thespark points-or terminals are rigidly se- .cured in place, so that they can only be removed and replaced by a skilled mechanic I overcome this diiiulty by providing sparkA points which are removably mounted on the plug, and which may lbe easily removed `and replaced.

lIt is extremely diiiicult to remove Vand replace the insulating core of all plugs known to me, when the plug becomes fouled or short circuitedby the depositions of soot or carbon .on the core. -This` diiiculty is encountered Ybecause the joints between the shell and the y core, and between the ceni :ral` electrode vor `terminal post and the core must be l carefully 'pakedvfovercome this by so constructing 'the inner part of the porcelairn core that -ing packing 18.seals-the joint between the shell may be removed and replaced without dis-l turbing the necessary packings.

In the drawings cation and forming a is a vertical sectionof a spark plug embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective vlew of a portion of the insulating core, which `terms a detail of my invention: Fig. 3 1s a portion ofthe plug, and illustrates an arrangement for mounting one of the spark p oints of the plug. Fi 4 is a. perspective Vview of a spark point, which is adapted to be mountedon the shellportion of the plug. Fig. 5 is a. sideelevation of`the central electrode or terminal plug, which forms a detail of my invention. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a heat insulating diaphragm. Fig.

is a perspective view of inner end of the insulating core, and illustrates the method of mounting one of the sparkl points. Fig. 8 is a p'erspective view Aof the spark point shown in; Fig. 7, and Fig. 9 is avperspective view of the spark point, bent to lock its mounting nut in place. Referring to the drawings: The plug illustrated as embodying my invention, consists of an outer shell portion 10, on which 'a spark oint 11 is mounted, an insulating core formed) in two parts 12 and ,13, and a central electrode -or terminal post 14, on which a spark point 15 is mounted.

The Shelli() is bored to two diameters to yaccompanying this `applipart thereof, Figure 1` perspective view of a portion ofv the shell a portion of the receive the separate parts 12 and 13 of the 'i core, and is provided with a shoulder formed by the diiferencein diameter' of` the bore,

on which a heat insulating, diaphragm 16 is mounted, place hy meansof the clatei in the larger portlon ofthe bore; The s iel the larger bore to receive a bushing 17, which surrounds the part 12,-and is adapted to secure it in place on the shell portion by compressing a packing 18 against'a shoulder 19 .formed o n the part 12, and thereby forcthe part against't-he diaphragm 16. The

preferably mica, being secured in portion 10 and the insulating .core or part 12. Both the parts-12 and 13 are'provided .with a longitudinally extendlng and centrally located' cylindrical hole 20, through The .whichjthe central electrode extends.

provided with an integrally electrode 14 is portion is tapped at the upper end of,

for-med collar 21 aIdis threaded at `each end, 1w

and is mounted in place on the plug by'being inserted through the hole 20, provided in the part 12 of the porcelain, so that its collar 21v contacts with the diaphragm 16 and the upper end projects beyond the outer end of the part 12. The electrode 14 is secured in place by means of a slotted nut 22, which is 'lo'ck nut 24 and a terminal nut 25 are cessed at 26 to receive the collar 21 and is mounted in place kon the plug by being slipped over the projecting lower portion of the electrode 14, and by being secured in place by means of a nut 36, which is secured to the inner end of the electrode.

The electrode is provided on each side adjacent to its inner end with slots 27, which are adapted to receive 'the spark point 15.

The spark point 15 is bifurcated at one end,

' so as to straddle the posts 14 and to engage the slots 27, and at, the other end is provided with a number of points, resembling saw teeth, which coperate with similar points provided on the spark point 11, to

form the spark gap of the plug. After that l part A13 is i'n place on the post 14, the spark point 15 is located on the post and the part 13 and the spark point are secured in place 'by means of the nut 36. The nut 36 is then locked in place by bending down the pro- Ijecting ends of the bifurcated portion of the spark point, so that the engage one face' gitudinally through the. shell, a sleeve surof the nut. and prevent it om turning.

The spark point 11 is provided with a mounting portion, which consists' of anfin tegrally formed arch shaped spring, which is adapted to be mounted in an' annular slotv 29, formed on the inner cylindrical face of the. shell portion 10 near its inner end and a vertically extending slot 30 connects- .l it from the slot 29."

with the slot 29, and is Iadapted to receive and hold in place the shank portion of the spark point. With thisA construction vboth the points-11 and 15-are firmly held in place,

and their adjustment'cannot be disturbed by the vibration of the engine.

When it is necessary to replace the -spark point 11, the point is moved-so as to com-- press the arch-shaped .pring and withdraw' is mounted on the shell 4portion 1.0 b snapping its s ring. portion in'placein t e slot. The 'spar point 15 is removed by first straightening the bifurcated ends, so that the nut 26 may be loosened and then withdrawing it from the slots27.

' When the plug becomes fouled cris-short circuited by'a deposition of carbon on the -of the sleeve, a spark point having exible he new spark point" part 13, this part may be removed without disturbing the part 12 by simply removing the nut 36 and ,the spark point 15. The saw toothlarrangement of the spark points facilitates the sparking, for thereason that electricity of a high potential seems to accumulate at a point, andwith this larrangement there are a number of dischargi in points. l

at I claim is:

' 1. In a spark plug, afcentral electrode, an insulating sleeve surrounding said electrode, means for securing the sleeve on the electrode and a spark point mounted` on the electrodei so as to be non-rotatable relatively thereto and bent to lock said means in place. 2. In a spark plug, a metallic shell, a central electrode, an insulatin core divided into two parts and surroun ing said electrede, a nut for securing one of said parts to said electrode, and as ark point secured tov said electrode by saig nut and provided with means for locking said' nut.

3. In a spark plug, an insulated. electrode, a spark point mounted on the electrode, and non-rotatable relatively thereto, a nut for holding the point vin place, and prongs on the spark point ca'pab e of being bent vinto nut-locking engagement with the nut.

4.'In a spark plug, a shell, an electrode projecting through the shell and having spark-point engaging slots near its inner end, a biurcated s ark point engaging the slots in the electro e, a nut for securing the point inv place and prongson the point adapted to be bent into nutlocking engagement with said nut.

-5..In 'a spark plu a shell forming an electrode, a central e ectrode extending lonrounding and carried -by'the central electrede, means mounted on lthe' electrode for securing the sleeve. iin place and Va s ark point carried b the electrode and loc 'u g said means in p ace. l y

6. In a vspark plug, a c lindrical shell forming a termina vo the p ug, an insulating sleeve formed in two parts, meansor securing the outerr part of the sleeve tothe shell, a central velectrode projecting lon tudinally through the outer part of` t e sleeve* and having spark-point receiving slots' near its innerA end, se arate means for securing the electrode tot e outer portionv prongs formed t slots formed in the central electrode, and independent mea for securing the spark lpoint and theinner .part of the sleeve to the aisA 126 ereon` and engaging the electrode, the ,prongs of said electrode being beii't into engagement with said in'aans, for

'positively' locking-itin place on the elec-I trode. I f

7. A spark plug comprising, an insulating sleeve formed in two parts, a-shell' hav- 130.'`

sleeve, n spark point located aga-inst the inner end of the sleeve and a nut on the inner 1b end of the electrode for locking the point ant the inner partof the sleeve to the electro e.

CHARLES MICONKLIN.

I A Witnesses e WALTER F. MURRAY, W. THORNTON BOGERT. 

